31 May 2012

ZIMBABWE : Cameo Wins National Basketball Championships

CAMEO are this year's winners of the national basketball championships after beating Mercenaries in the finals at Richwood Park on Sunday. Cameo beat the Mutare side 48-47 in a tightly-contested final. The tournament saw 15 men and 10 women's teams battling it out at three venues -- Girls High School, Prince Edward School and Richwood Park.
The men's teams were divided into four pools with pool A made up of Mbare Heat, Kings and Oilers while pool B consisted of Mercenaries, Varsity Leopards, Pistons and Cameo.
Pool C was made up of JBC, Unicorns and Trail Blazers and pool D had Raiders, Dangamvura Knights, Highlanders and Cheetahs.
The women's section had two pools with pool A made up of Varsity Leopards, Lakers, Raiders, Greenstars and Kushinga Phikelela.
Pool B featured JBC, Giant, Real Returners, Pistons and Cameo.
Cameo had earlier beaten JBC 46-26 in the semi-finals.
Mercenaries beat defending champions Mbare Heat 59-49 in the other semi-final.
In the women's section, Varsity Leopards, retained their title when they defeated city rivals, JBC. 75-61.
Basketball Union of Zimbabwe director for competitions, Simon Lawson, said they were impressed with the good show put up by the participating teams.
"It was tough competition and a close contest. If the finals can be decided by just one point it shows how tough the competition was.
"The men's competition was stiff you could not predict which team would win.
"Women, as well, did well. Greenstars lost because of inexperience, they are school kids. But all the pools were exciting," said Lawson.
The top two teams in each category will now represent the country at the Zone Six Club Championships to be held later this year.